Drum



C. G. OLSEN.

DRUM.

APPHCATION man NOV- 1, 191a.

Patented-June 14, 192 1.

UNITED STATES (PATENT OFFICE.

' CHARLES QLsENQoF roR'rIiAND, onneo v.

' DRUM.

Specification oflltetters I'atent. Patent d June 14., 1921.

Application filed. November 7,1918. Serial No. 261,501.

'To all whom it may concern:

My invention relates to drums and has for its object the production of improvements in drum shells that are ordinarily made either of wood or of metal. some accounts preferred to Wood shells as heretofore constructed,'but they modify, objectionably in certain respects, the tone of the instrument.

By my invention, the best attributes of the wood and of the metal construction are combined in one instrument. Being made of wood, but in accordance with my novel principle of construction, it not only retains the tone of the wood, as heretofore known in the art, but improves it, and also imparts a rigidity to a wooden shell comparable to that of metal.

What constitutes my invention 7 will be hereinafter specified in detail and succinctly set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing,

Figure I is a top plan view of one of my drum shells, Fig. II a diametrical vertical section, and Fig. III a perspective of the same looking at it from above.

Referring to the numerals on the draw ings, 1 indicates a block or strip of suitable material, preferably wood, being one of a course of similar blocks or strips that are united by end to end joints as indicated at.

2 to form, as a separate object of apprehension, an annulus or narrow cylinder. 3 indicates a block or strip similar to the block or strip, which is united by end to end joints as indicated at 4, to other blocks or strips that constitute a narrow cylinder or annulus similar, it may be, in all respects, to the cylinder composed of the blocks 1. In the drawing an assemblage of a number of courses such as I have just described is shown. The number of courses is indefinite and may be varied at will. All the courses are or may be substantially alike, and an two of contiguous courses may be selected for comparison. Moreover the relative dimen sions of the blocks which constitute the several eeerses as well as the meth d f join- Metal shells are on ing them together may be varied at discretion. 1

Two blocks are identified by reference numerals for comparison in order to point out that the joints of any two contiguous courses are alternately disposed. For ex- .ample each joint 2 is disposed substantially inidwise ofa block 3, and a joint 4 substantially midwise of a block 1. A corresponding order of arrangement is employed throughout the entire shell.

Each course of blocks has been with a view -toclearness specified as annular or more specifically a narrow cylinder. In point of fact there is no segregation oft-he courses, but all are intimately, securely, and compactly united into one body or shell, the

union between courses and the end to end joints being effected by the use of suitable glue, cement or the like.

The composite shellso formed being cylindrical as shown, for example in the drawing the courses of which it is built up will be cylindrical also, and are so described; but it should be observed that the shape of the composite structure maybe made hemiforming the dome of the hemispherical shell The cylindrical shell is presented as the preferred form because it is the one in most extensive use. i

Such a shell is preferably provided upon its opposite edges with preferably segmental plates 5 preferably made of wood which con stitute rings against which drum heads (not illustrated) are applied and secured by any usual or preferred means suitable for the purpose. The plates 5 being collectively of annular shape are incorporated into the shell structure and united thereto by means cor-- form may be imparted to the composite structure as a whole by turning it as in a lathe; but a curvilinear contour of less exy linear contour as shown in Fig. II. Such test be Pr i d y m nd i y h rings next to the plates 5, for example, with internal curved fillets 6.

The construction above described aflords a shell that is practically as strong, stiff, and unyielding as one made of metal; but being made of wood it preserves the wood tone. In addition thereto the composite structure enlarges the scope for the selection of the wood of which it is made, and makes it possible to employ close grained woods of best tonal quality. Moreover the transverse curvilinear contour of the interior of the shell lends a reverberant eiiect that improves the quality of the tone.

lVhat l claim is:

1. A drum shell comprising a plurality of endless courses united side to side to form a composite unitary structure.

2. A drum shell comprising a plurality of endless courses united side to side to form a composite unitary structure, each course being formed from aplurality of sections united end to end.

3. A drum shell comprising a plurality of endless courses united side to side to form a composite unitary structure, each course being formed from a plurality of sections united end to end, the joints in each course being disposed intermediate the joints of the adjacent courses.

4. A drum shell comprising a plurality of endless courses united side to side to form a composite unitary structure, each course being formed of a plurality of wooden sections united end to end, the joints in each course being disposed intermediate the oints of the adjacent courses, and some of the courses being or" greater width than the others to give the drum a curvilinear transverse contour.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES G. OLSEN.

Witnesses J osnrrr L. ATKINS, JOHN B. CLELAND. 

